Systems and methods for a centralized gift registry with upload and merge of a retailer-specific registry

Abstract

Systems and methods for that allow for the creation and management of a centralized gift registry are described. A retailer-specific registry is imported into the centralized gift registry. A gift list is created and displayed. Gift givers may select a gift from the gift list of the centralized gift registry. In one embodiment, when a purchase of a gift occurs, the gift list is updated. Updates to gifts are sent between the centralized gift registry and the retailer-specific registries, such that the gifts common to these registries are synchronized. This synchronization may involve the use of APIs at the centralized gift registry or the retailer-specific registries. The centralized gift registry system automatically searches for all retailer-specific registries pertaining to the gift registrant. The centralized gift registry system may request a retailer's system for information on gift items of a respective retailer-specific registry.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A centralized gift registry system comprising:
 a centralized gift registry of a gift registrant; 
 a memory for storing the centralized gift registry; and 
 a network interface for communicating with a communications network, the communications network accessible to at least one retailer-specific registry and the gift registrant; 
 a processor in communication with the memory and the network interface, the processor configured to:
 generate a request to import a retailer-specific registry for the gift registrant into the centralized gift registry; 
 transmit the request to receive information on gift items of the retailer-specific registry; and 
 import the gift items of the retailer-specific registry into the centralized gift registry, thereby including on the centralized gift registry a gift common to the centralized gift registry and at least one retailer-specific registry. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate the request to import the retailer-specific registry without input from the gift registrant. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory stores an application programming interface (API), and the processor transmits the request to receive information via an API function call. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the centralized gift registry system via the API function call. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein
 the API function call includes a public key, and 
 a private key associated with a retailer-specific registry system is used to digitally sign the API function call, and 
 a retailer-specific registry system determines, based at least in part on the digital signature of the API function call, the identity of the centralized gift registry system. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an update to a gift that is common between the retailer-specific registry and the centralized gift registry; and 
 transmit the update to the retailer-specific registry, thereby synchronizing the gift common to the respective retailer-specific registry and the centralized gift registry. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting uses an API function call. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein an update includes a change in the desired quantity of the gift. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein an update includes an addition of the gift to a respective registry. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6 , wherein an update includes a decrease in the desired quantity of the gift based at least in part on a purchase request. 
     
     
       11. A method implemented on a centralized gift registry system including a centralized gift registry of a gift registrant, and a communications network accessible to the centralized gift registry system, at least one retailer, and the gift registrant, the method comprising:
 generating a request to import a retailer-specific registry for the gift registrant into the centralized gift registry; and 
 transmitting the request for receiving information on gift items of the retailer-specific registry; and 
 importing the gift items of the retailer-specific registry into the centralized gift registry, thereby including on the centralized gift registry a gift common to the centralized gift registry and at least one retailer-specific registry, wherein 
 the gift common to the centralized gift registry and at least one retailer-specific registry of the gift registrant is stored on a memory of the centralized gift registry system. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating the request to import the retailer-specific registry without input from the gift registrant. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the memory stores an application programming interface (API), further comprising:
 transmitting the request for information via an API function call. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying the centralized gift registry system via the API function call. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 the API function call includes a public key, and 
 a private key associated with the centralized gift registry system is used to digitally sign the API function call, and further comprising: 
 a retailer-specific registry system determining, based at least in part on the digital signature of the API function call, the identity of the centralized gift registry system. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving an update to a gift that is common between the retailer-specific registry and the centralized gift registry; and 
 transmitting the update to the retailer-specific registry, thereby synchronizing the gift common to the respective retailer-specific registry and the centralized gift registry. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting uses an API function call. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein an update includes a change in the desired quantity of the gift. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein an update includes an addition of the gift to a respective registry. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein an update includes a decrease in the desired quantity of the gift based at least in part on a purchase request.